Gene Steratore to Speak at Bethany SAAC Banquet

April 15 – BETHANY, W. Va. – The Bethany College athletic department and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) are pleased to announce that current National Football League (NFL) referee and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball official Gene Steratore will be the special guest speaker at the annual SAAC banquet to be held on Sunday, April 27.

Steratore, a native of Washington, Pa., and current supervisor of football officials for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, started as a NCAA Division I basketball official in 1997 and became an NFL field judge in 2003. He was promoted to referee at the start of the 2006 season and has been working the collegiate basketball and professional football circuit ever since, along with owning his own janitorial supply business.

Recognized as one of the top referees in the NFL, Steratore earned the opportunity to officiate the 2014 NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. On the hardwood this past season, he was on the floor every day at the 2014 Big Ten Tournament and was one of three officials to cover the Tournament championship game between Michigan State and Michigan.

“We welcome the opportunity to have Gene Steratore as the headline speaker for our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee banquet,” said Director of Athletics & Recreation Brian Rose.

“In addition to being one of the most respected referees in the NFL and a top Division I basketball official, his work supervising the football officials in the PAC has helped strengthen the reputation of the conference. Gene is also co-owner of a successful business, so his wide variety of life experiences make him a great example for our student-athletes and will add another highlight to our end-of-the-year banquet.”

The SAAC Banquet, held every year to honor and celebrate all the student-athletes from Bethany, will be held on Sunday, April 27 at 5:00 p.m. in Benedum Commons on Bethany’s campus.